Greg Janney's 2008 escort of Gold Star dad John Wroblewski to site in Ramadi where his son, USMC 2Lt J.T. Wroblewski, ten other Marines, and a Navy Corpsman were killed in an ambush on 6 April 2004. This first visit and memorial service at the actual site in Iraq was to honor all twelve men of 2/4 Marines lost that day.
Iraq's reconstruction, security, and the religious genocide of Iraq's native Christians are also featured.

About Me

Professional photographer since 1985, I specialize in aerial, commercial, corporate, military, USDA photography of National Forests, event photography, and am also honored to have the chance to photograph families, reunions, seniors, and weddings. My Iraq 2008 trip was my second independent embed assignment in Iraq.
I am currently writing a book, "A Father's Journey to Iraq" detailing my 2 trips to Iraq with Gold Star father John Wroblewski.

06 April 2014

Ten years ago today, the men of 2/4 Marines "Echo" Company were on a routine patrol on Route Gypsum through the market when they were attacked by hundreds of insurgents in a well planned ambush. The lead Humvee at the intersection of Route Nova and Route Gypsum was hit first, followed by attacks all along the column of unarmored vehicles.

In seconds, the men of 2/4 Marines "Echo" Company were fighting and dying in the Ramadi market place. Before reinforcements could arrive, 12 men had made the ultimate sacrifice in the savage fire fight.

Today at Camp Pendleton, the Gold Star families of the Fallen and their Marine brothers are gathering to pay homage to those lost on 6 April 2004. We will never forget these men and the sacrifices they and their families made that day.

06 March 2014

Today marks 6 years since Gold Star dad John Wroblewski and I, along with USMC Major General John Kelly and 2/8 PSD Company Marines stood in a narrow alleyway off Route Gypsum in Ramadi, Iraq to perform a solemn memorial service for the 2/4 Marines of Echo Company that were killed in action there on 6 April 2004.

It took me 14 months of planning after our failed attempt to reach Ramadi in 2007, but we were finally able to stand in the market place where 12 men of 2/4 Marines were killed in the 2004 ambush, so we could honor their memories in this memorial service on 6 March 2008.

Since then, I have written a book about our 2 trips to Iraq to honor the fallen, and have signed a contract to publish "A Father's Journey to Iraq." I am in the process of interviewing the Gold Star parents of these fallen heroes to be included in the book so that readers across the nation will know these men not just as names on a page, but will realize that they were sons and fathers, and left behind grieving family members who cherish their memories.

It is up to us to help keep them alive through those memories, to let their families and their Marine brothers know that we will never forget them or the ultimate sacrifice that they made that day. On 6 April 2014, we will again remember the fallen, their families, and their Marine brothers when we gather at Camp Pendleton, California for the 10 year remembrance.

I hope to be there to meet the Gold Star parents and families of these fallen men, their 2/4 Marine brothers, and other distinguished guests to honor the memory of the 12 men killed on 6 Apr 2004, as well as the other 22 Marines killed and 255 wounded during that Iraq deployment, which was the bloodiest of any other Marine unit deployed to Iraq. Please join us to keep their memories alive. You can visit the 2nd Battalion 4th Marines Facebook page for more details on the reunion: https://www.facebook.com/2dBattalion4thMarines